Track Santa on his journey

The North American Aerospace Defense Command is preparing for a busy time of year. In fact, it's a very important time of year. They have begun the countdown to Christmas, and then on Christmas Eve they will be tracking Santa on his journey around the world. Activities for children are also available on the website.

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recordonline.com

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Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Posted Dec. 3, 2012 at 2:00 AM

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The North American Aerospace Defense Command is preparing for a busy time of year. In fact, it's a very important time of year. They have begun the countdown to Christmas, and then on Christmas Eve they will be tracking Santa on his journey around the world. Activities for children are also available on the website.

Santa will be packin' up his "ride" and NORAD will be busy issuing hourly reports on him starting at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and continuing until 1 a.m. When access becomes available, it will feature animation of Santa's trip and live hourly audio reports on his progress. There are also videos.

NORAD is expecting a visual sighting of Santa in North America airspace beginning around 10 p.m. Dec. 24. Special cameras installed in the cockpits of Canadian CF-18s planes will be able to capture the first images of Santa. These images will then be downloaded to the NORAD website.

NORAD has confirmed that North Pole toy production is in full swing and Santa is checking his list over and over to determine who has been naughty and who has been nice. Anyone who leaves cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer will gain a few extra points.

Be sure to visit recordonline.com/santasride to take part in the countdown.

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NORAD, in Colorado Springs, Colo., has conducted this tracking for 41 years. Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) was the original tracker. The tradition started after a local store advertised for children to call Santa on a special hot line, but the number was misprinted and the calls went to the CONAD commander in chief's operations hot line. Realizing what had happened after he got the first "Santa" call, he played along and the rest of the staff later jumped in to help with the many calls. A picture of Santa with his reindeer was later added to the map and the tradition was born.